Registration No. 333-     
                                                                           

                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                       FORM S-3
                                REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                              THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              Appalachian Power Company
                (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Virginia                                               54-0124790
          (State or other jurisdiction                     (I.R.S. Employer
          of incorporation or organization)             Identification No.)

          40 Franklin Road, S.W.
          Roanoke, Virginia                                           24011
          (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)

           Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 540-985-2300

                              ARMANDO A. PENA, Treasurer
                     AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER SERVICE CORPORATION
                                  1 Riverside Plaza
                                 Columbus, Ohio 43215
                                     614-223-2850
              (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

             It is respectfully requested that the Commission send copies
                    of all notices, orders and communications to:

          Simpson Thacher & Bartlett         Dewey Ballantine LLP
          425 Lexington Avenue               1301 Avenue of the Americas
          New York, NY 10017-3909            New York, NY 10019-6092
          Attention: James M. Cotter         Attention: E. N. Ellis, IV


          Approximate date of  commencement of proposed sale to the public:
          At such time or  times after the effective date of  the Registra-
          tion Statement as the registrant shall determine.


               If  the only  securities being  registered on this  Form are
          being  offered  pursuant  to  dividend  or  interest reinvestment
          plans, please check the following box.  [ ]
               If any  of the securities being registered  on this Form are
          to be offered  on a delayed or continuous basis  pursuant to Rule
          415  under  the Securities  Act  of 1933,  other  than securities
          offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment
          plans, please check the following box.  [ ]
               If this Form is filed to  register additional securities for
          an offering  pursuant to Rule  462(b) under  the Securities  Act,
          please  check  the following  box  and  list  the Securities  Act
          registration   statement  number   of   the   earlier   effective
          registration statement for the same offering.  [ ]
               If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
          Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
          list  the Securities  Act  registration statement  number of  the
          earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  
          [ ]
               If  delivery  of  the  prospectus  is  expected  to be  made
          pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box.  [ ]

                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


            Title of                   Proposed     Proposed
         Each Class of                  Maximum     Maximum
           Securities      Amount      Offering    Aggregate     Amount of
             to be          to be        Price      Offering    Registration
           Registered    Registered    Per Unit*     Price*         Fee

          Senior Notes  $100,000,000     100%     $100,000,000    $29,500

          *Estimated solely  for purpose  of  calculating the  registration
          fee.


               The registrant hereby amends this  registration statement on
          such date  or dates as  may be  necessary to delay  its effective
          date  until the registrant  shall file a  further amendment which
          specifically   states  that  this  registration  statement  shall
          thereafter become  effective in  accordance with Section  8(a) of
          the Securities Act  of 1933, or until  the registration statement
          shall become effective  on such  date as  the Commission,  acting
          pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

                                                                           

          INFORMATION  CONTAINED   HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR
          AMENDMENT.  A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES
          HAS  BEEN  FILED WITH  THE  SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION.
          THESE  SECURITIES MAY  NOT  BE SOLD  NOR  MAY  OFFERS TO  BUY  BE
          ACCEPTED  PRIOR TO  THE TIME  THE REGISTRATION  STATEMENT BECOMES
          EFFECTIVE.  THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL
          OR  THE SOLICITATION OF  AN OFFER TO  BUY NOR SHALL  THERE BE ANY
          SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,
          SOLICITATION OR SALE  WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR  TO REGISTRATION OR
          QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH JURISDICTION.

                    SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 9, 1998


          PROSPECTUS




                                     $100,000,000

                              APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY
                        ____% Senior Notes, Series A, Due 2038

               The Senior Notes, Series  A, Due 2038, will mature  on March
          31, 2038  (the "New Senior Notes").   Interest on  the New Senior
          Notes at the rate  of _____% per annum  is payable quarterly,  in
          arrears, on each March 31, June  30, September 30 and December 31
          (each  an "Interest  Payment Date"),  commencing March  31, 1998.
          The New Senior Notes will be redeemable at 100% of  the principal
          amount redeemed plus  accrued interest to the redemption  date at
          the option of the Company in  whole or in part on or  after March
          __, 2003.  The New Senior Notes will be available for purchase in
          denominations of  $25  and any  integral multiple  thereof.   See
          "Description of the New Senior Notes" herein.

               The  New   Senior  Notes  will  be   direct,  unsecured  and
          unsubordinated obligations of the Company ranking pari passu with
          all   other  unsecured  and  unsubordinated  obligations  of  the
          Company.  The  New Senior Notes will be  effectively subordinated
          to  all secured debt of the Company, including its first mortgage
          bonds,  aggregating  approximately $1,102,000,000  outstanding at
          December 31, 1997.  The Indenture contains no restrictions on the
          amount  of additional  indebtedness that may  be incurred  by the
          Company.

               The New Senior Notes initially will be represented by one or
          more global Notes (each  a "Global Note") registered in  the name
          of a nominee of  The Depository Trust Company, as  Depository, or
          another  depository (such a Note,  so represented, being called a
          "Book-Entry  Note").    Beneficial  interests  in  Global   Notes
          representing  Book-Entry Notes  will be  shown on,  and transfers
          thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by  the
          Depository's participants.  Book-Entry Notes will not be issuable
          as  certificated  notes  except  under   circumstances  described
          herein.  See "Description  of the New Senior Notes  -- Book-Entry
          Notes" herein.

               Application will be made to have the New Senior Notes listed
          on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE").

          THESE  SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED  BY THE
          SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES
          COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY
          STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED  UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
          OF  THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY  REPRESENTATION TO  THE  CONTRARY IS  A
          CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


                            Price to    Underwriting      Proceeds to
                           Public(1)    Discount(2)(4)    Company(3)(4)

           Per New          
           Senior Note .    100.000%       ____%             __.___%

           Total . . . .  $100,000,000    $_,___,___       $___,___,___

          (1)  Plus  accrued interest,  if any,  from the date  of original
               issuance.
          (2)  The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against
               certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the
               Securities  Act of  1933,  as amended.   See  "Underwriting"
               herein.
          (3)  Before deducting  expenses payable by the Company, estimated
               at $212,500.
          (4)  The  Underwriting  Discount will  be  __%  of the  principal
               amount of the New Senior Notes sold to certain institutions.
               Therefore,  to the extent  any such  sales are made  to such
               institutions, the actual total Underwriting Discount will be
               less than, and the actual total Proceeds to the Company will
               be greater than, the amounts shown in the table above.

               The  New   Senior  Notes   are  offered  severally   by  the
          Underwriters,  as  specified  herein,  subject  to  receipt   and
          acceptance by them and subject to their right to reject any order
          in  whole or in part.   It is  expected that delivery  of the New
          Senior  Notes will be  made only  in book-entry form  through the
          facilities of The Depository Trust Company on  or about March __,
          1998 against payment thereof in immediately available funds.

          Salomon Smith Barney
               Merrill Lynch & Co.
                    Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
                         PaineWebber Incorporated
                              Prudential Securities Incorporated

               The date of this Prospectus is February __, 1998.



          CERTAIN  PERSONS PARTICIPATING  IN  THIS OFFERING  MAY ENGAGE  IN
          TRANSACTIONS  THAT STABILIZE,  MAINTAIN OR  OTHERWISE  AFFECT THE
          PRICE  OF THE  NEW  SENIOR  NOTES  OFFERED HEREBY,  INCLUDING  BY
          ENTERING STABILIZING  BIDS, PURCHASING NEW SENIOR  NOTES TO COVER
          SYNDICATE  SHORT POSITIONS  AND  IMPOSING PENALTY  BIDS.   FOR  A
          DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING" HEREIN.

               No dealer,  salesperson or other person  has been authorized
          to  give  any information  or  to  make  any  representation  not
          contained in this Prospectus in connection with the offer made by
          this Prospectus,  and,  if given  or  made, such  information  or
          representation must not be relied upon as having been  authorized
          by  the  Company  or  any underwriter,  agent  or  dealer.   This
          Prospectus  does   not  constitute  an   offer  to  sell,   or  a
          solicitation  of an offer  to buy,  by any underwriter,  agent or
          dealer in  any  jurisdiction in  which it  is  unlawful for  such
          underwriter,   agent  or  dealer   to  make  such   an  offer  or
          solicitation.  Neither  the delivery of  this Prospectus nor  any
          sale made  thereunder shall, under any  circumstances, create any
          implication that there has  been no change in the  affairs of the
          Company since the date hereof or thereof.

                                AVAILABLE INFORMATION

               The Company is subject  to the informational requirements of
          the  Securities  Exchange Act  of 1934  (the  "1934 Act")  and in
          accordance therewith files reports and other information with the
          Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").  Such reports and
          other  infor-mation  may be  inspected and  copied at  the public
          reference  facilities maintained by the SEC  at 450 Fifth Street,
          N.W., Washington, D.C., 20549;  Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison
          Street,  Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois,  60661; and 7 World Trade
          Center, 13th  Floor, New York,  New York  10048.  Copies  of such
          material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the
          SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed
          rates.    The  SEC maintains  a  Web  site  at http://www.sec.gov
          containing  reports, proxy statements  and information statements
          and other information regarding  registrants that file electroni-
          cally  with the  SEC,  including the  Company.   Certain  of  the
          Company's  securities are listed  on the New  York Stock Exchange
          and  on the Philadelphia Stock  Exchange, where reports and other
          information concerning the Company may also be inspected.

                         DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

               The following  documents filed by  the Company with  the SEC
          are incorporated in this Prospectus by reference:

               --   The Company's Annual  Report on Form 10-K for  the year
                    ended December 31, 1996;

               --   The Company's  Quarterly Reports  on Form 10-Q  for the
                    periods  ended  March  31,  1997,  June  30,  1997  and
                    September 30, 1997; and

               --   The  Company's  Current  Report  on  Form   8-K,  dated
                    December 21, 1997.

               All documents subsequently filed  by the Company pursuant to
          Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)  of the 1934 Act after the date
          of this Prospectus and  prior to the termination of  the offering
          made by this  Prospectus shall  be deemed to  be incorporated  by
          reference in this  Prospectus and to  be a part  hereof from  the
          date of filing of such documents.

               Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed
          to  be incorporated  by reference  herein shall  be deemed  to be
          modified or  superseded for  purposes of  this Prospectus to  the
          extent  that  a  statement  contained  herein  or  in  any  other
          subsequently filed document which is deemed to be incorporated by
          reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such
          statement so modified or  superseded shall not be deemed,  except
          as  so modified  or  superseded, to  constitute  a part  of  this
          Prospectus.

               The Company will  provide without charge  to each person  to
          whom a copy of this Prospectus has been delivered, on the written
          or oral request  of any such person, a copy of  any or all of the
          documents  described  above  which  have  been  incorporated   by
          reference  in  this  Prospectus,  other  than  exhibits  to  such
          documents.  Written requests for copies of  such documents should
          be addressed to Mr.  G. C. Dean, American Electric  Power Service
          Corporation, 1 Riverside Plaza,  Columbus, Ohio 43215  (telephone
          number: 614-223-1000).   The information relating  to the Company
          contained in this Prospectus does not purport to be comprehensive
          and should be read together with the information contained in the
          documents incorporated by reference.

                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                       Page

          Available Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
          Documents Incorporated by Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
          Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
          The Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
          Use of Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
          Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
          Description of New Senior Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
          Legal Opinions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
          Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
          Underwriting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15

                                     THE COMPANY

               The   Company  is  engaged   in  the  generation,  purchase,
          transmission and distribution of  electric power to approximately
          877,000  customers in  southwestern  Virginia and  southern  West
          Virginia, and in supplying electric  power at wholesale to  other
          electric  utility  companies,   municipalities  and   non-utility
          entities engaged  in the wholesale  power market.   Its principal
          executive offices are located at 40 Franklin Road, S.W., Roanoke,
          Virginia 24011 (telephone number:  540-985-2300).  The Company is
          a subsidiary of American Electric Power Company, Inc. ("AEP") and
          is a  part  of the  American  Electric Power  integrated  utility
          system  (the "AEP  System").   The executive  offices of  AEP are
          located  at 1  Riverside Plaza,  Columbus, Ohio  43215 (telephone
          number: 614-223-1000).

                                   USE OF PROCEEDS

               The Company proposes to  use the net proceeds from  the sale
          of the  New Senior Notes to  redeem or repurchase certain  of its
          outstanding debt and/or preferred stock, to fund its construction
          program, to repay short-term indebtedness  incurred in connection
          with  such purchase  or its  construction program  and for  other
          corporate  purposes.   Proceeds  may be  temporarily invested  in
          short-term instruments pending their application to the foregoing
          purposes.

               The Company's  First Mortgage  Bonds, 7.95% Series  due 2002
          ($60,000,000  principal amount outstanding)  will be  redeemed on
          March 1, 1998 at their regular  redemption price of 101.14%.  The
          Company's   First  Mortgage   Bonds,   8.43%  Series   due   2022
          ($50,000,000  principal amount  outstanding) may  be redeemed  at
          their regular redemption price of  106.33%.  The Company's  First
          Mortgage  Bonds,  8.70% Series  due  2022  ($35,000,000 principal
          amount outstanding)  may be redeemed at  their regular redemption
          price  of 106.53%.   The  Company's First  Mortgage Bonds,  8.75%
          Series due 2022 ($29,919,000 principal amount outstanding) may be
          redeemed  at their  regular  redemption price  of  106.13%.   The
          Company's First Mortgage  Bonds may also be redeemed  through the
          application  of  cash  deposited   with  the  Trustee  under  the
          Company's  Mortgage  (as  defined  below)   pursuant  to  certain
          provisions thereof.

               The Company has estimated that its consolidated construction
          costs (inclusive of allowance for funds used during construction)
          for  1998  will be  approximately $206,000,000.   At  January 21,
          1998,  the Company  had approximately $113,000,000  of short-term
          unsecured indebtedness outstanding.

                          RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

               Below  is set forth the  ratio of earnings  to fixed charges
          for  each of  the twelve  month periods  ended December  31, 1992
          through 1996 and September 30, 1997:

                        12-Month
                      Period Ended                Ratio

                    December 31, 1992             2.58
                    December 31, 1993             2.69
                    December 31, 1994             2.37
                    December 31, 1995             2.54
                    December 31, 1996             2.78
                    September 30, 1997            2.45

                           DESCRIPTION OF NEW SENIOR NOTES

               The  New  Senior  Notes  will  be  issued  as  a  series  of
          Securities under  an  Indenture, dated  as  of January  1,  1998,
          between  the Company and  The Bank of  New York,  as Trustee (the
          "Trustee"), as heretofore supplemented  and amended and as to  be
          further  supplemented   and  amended  (the  "Indenture").     The
          following  summary does not purport to be complete and is subject
          in all  respects to the  provisions of,  and is qualified  in its
          entirety  by reference  to, the  Indenture.   Whenever particular
          provisions  or defined  terms in  the Indenture  are  referred to
          herein,  such provisions  or  defined terms  are incorporated  by
          reference herein.  Section and Article references used herein are
          references to provisions of the Indenture unless otherwise noted.

               All  Notes (including  the New  Senior Notes)  to be  issued
          under the Indenture are herein sometimes  referred to as "Notes".
          Copies  of  the Indenture,  including the  form of  Company Order
          pursuant to which each series of  Notes may be issued, are  filed
          as exhibits to the Registration Statement.

          General

               The New Senior Notes will be issued in fully registered form
          only,  without  coupons.   The New  Senior  Notes will  be issued
          initially as one  or more Book-Entry Notes.  Except  as set forth
          herein under "Book-Entry Notes", the New Senior Notes will not be
          issuable as certificated notes.   The authorized denominations of
          Global Notes will be $25 and any integral multiple thereof.

               The New  Senior Notes will  be unsecured obligations  of the
          Company and will rank pari passu with all other unsecured debt of
          the Company, except debt that by its terms is subordinated to the
          unsecured debt of the  Company.  The Indenture provides  that New
          Senior Notes  may be issued  thereunder without limitation  as to
          aggregate principal amount and may be issued thereunder from time
          to time in one or more series or one or more Tranches thereof, as
          authorized  by a Board  Resolution and as set  forth in a Company
          Order  or  one  or  more supplemental  indentures  creating  such
          series. (Section 2.01).

               Substantially all of the  fixed properties and franchises of
          the Company are subject  to the lien of its first  mortgage bonds
          (the "Bonds") issued under and secured by a Mortgage  and Deed of
          Trust, dated as of  December 1, 1940, as  previously supplemented
          and amended  by supplemental indentures, between  the Company and
          Bankers Trust Company, as trustee (the "Mortgage").

               The  New Senior  Notes are  not convertible  into any  other
          security  of  the  Company.    The  covenants  contained  in  the
          Indenture  do  not limit  the amount  of  other debt,  secured or
          unsecured, which may  be issued by the Company.  In addition, the
          Indenture does not contain any  provisions that afford holders of
          New  Senior Notes protection in  the event of  a highly leveraged
          transaction involving the Company.

          Principal Amount, Maturity and Interest

               The New Senior Notes will be limited  in aggregate principal
          amount to $100,000,000.

               The New Senior Notes will mature and become due and payable,
          together with any accrued  and unpaid interest thereon,  on March
          31, 2038  and will bear interest  at the rate per  annum shown in
          the title thereof from the date on which the New Senior Notes are
          originally issued until the  principal amount thereof becomes due
          and payable.  The New Senior Notes are not subject to any sinking
          fund provision.

               Interest on each New  Senior Note will be payable  quarterly
          in arrears on each March  31, June 30, September 30 and  December
          31  and at redemption, if any, or maturity.  The initial Interest
          Payment  Date is  March 31,  1998.  Each  payment of  interest in
          respect  of  an  Interest  Payment Date  shall  include  interest
          accrued  through  the  day  before such  Interest  Payment  Date.
          Interest  on New Senior Notes will be  computed on the basis of a
          360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

               Payments  of interest  on the New  Senior Notes  (other than
          interest payable  at redemption,  if any,  or  maturity) will  be
          made, except as provided below, in immediately available funds to
          the owners of such New Senior Notes (which, in the case of Global
          Notes representing  Book-Entry Notes, will  be a  nominee of  the
          Depository, as hereinafter defined) as of the Regular Record Date
          (as defined below) for each Interest Payment Date.

               The  principal of the New  Senior Notes and  any premium and
          interest thereon payable at redemption, if any, or maturity  will
          be paid  in immediately available funds upon surrender thereof at
          the office of The Bank  of New York at 101 Barclay  Street in New
          York, New York.  Should  any New Senior Note be issued other than
          as a  Global  Note,  interest  (other than  interest  payable  at
          redemption or maturity)  may, at  the option of  the Company,  be
          paid to  the person entitled thereto by  check mailed to any such
          person.  See "Book-Entry Notes" herein.

               If,  with respect  to  any  New  Senior Note,  any  Interest
          Payment Date, redemption date  or the maturity is not  a Business
          Day (as defined below), payment of amounts due on such New Senior
          Note  on such date  may be made  on the next  succeeding Business
          Day, and,  if such payment is  made or duly provided  for on such
          Business  Day, no interest shall  accrue on such  amounts for the
          period from and after such Interest Payment Date, redemption date
          or  maturity, as the  case may be,  to such  Business Day, except
          that, if such  Business Day  is in the  next succeeding  calendar
          year,  such payment  shall be made  on the  immediately preceding
          Business Day, with  the same force and effect as  if made on such
          date.

               The  "Regular Record Date" with respect to a New Senior Note
          will be  the March 15, June  15, September 15 or  December 15, as
          the case  may be, next preceding  an Interest Payment  Date or if
          such March  15, June  15, September  15 or December  15 is  not a
          Business Day, the next preceding Business Day.

               "Business Day" with respect to any New Senior Note means any
          day that  (a)  in  the  Place  of  Payment  (as  defined  in  the
          Indenture) (or in any of the Places of Payment, if more than one)
          in which  amounts are payable  as specified  in the form  of such
          Note and (b)  in the city  in which  the Trustee administers  its
          corporate  trust  business,   is  not  a  day  on  which  banking
          institutions are authorized  or required by law  or regulation to
          close.

          Certain Trading Characteristics of the New Senior Notes

               The New Senior Notes  are expected to trade at  a price that
          takes  into  account the  value, if  any,  of accrued  but unpaid
          interest;  thus,  purchasers will  not pay and  sellers will  not
          receive  accrued  and unpaid  interest  with respect  to  the New
          Senior Notes that is  not included in the trading  price thereof.
          Any portion of the  trading price of  a New Senior Note  received
          that  is  attributable to  accrued  interest will  be  treated as
          ordinary interest income for federal income tax purposes and will
          not be  treated as part  of the  amount realized for  purposes of
          determining gain or  loss on  the disposition of  the New  Senior
          Note.

               The trading price  of the New Senior  Notes is likely  to be
          sensitive  to the level of interest rates generally.  If interest
          rates rise in general, the trading price  of the New Senior Notes
          may decline  to reflect the additional yield  requirements of the
          purchasers.  Conversely, a decline in interest rates may increase
          the  trading price of the New Senior Notes, although any increase
          will be moderated by the Company's ability to call the New Senior
          Notes at  any time  on or  after March __,  2003 at  a Redemption
          Price equal to 100% of  the principal amount to be redeemed  plus
          accrued but unpaid interest.

          Optional Redemption

               The New Senior Notes will be redeemable at the option of the
          Company, in whole or  in part, at any time on or  after March __,
          2003, upon not  less than 30  nor more than  60 days' notice,  at
          100%  of the principal amount redeemed  together with accrued and
          unpaid interest to the redemption date.

          Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer

               New Senior Notes in  definitive form will be issued  only as
          registered Notes without coupons  in denominations of $25 and  in
          integral multiples thereof authorized by the Company.  New Senior
          Notes may be  presented for  registration of  transfer (with  the
          form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed) or  exchange, at
          the  office of the Security Registrar, without service charge and
          upon  payment  of any  taxes  and other  governmental  charges as
          described  in the Indenture.   Such transfer or  exchange will be
          effected  upon  the  Company  or  the  Security  Registrar  being
          satisfied  with the documents of title and identity of the person
          making the request.   The  Company has appointed  the Trustee  as
          Security Registrar with respect to New Senior Notes.  The Company
          may change the place for registration of transfer and exchange of
          the New Senior  Notes and  may designate one  or more  additional
          places  for such  registration and  exchange. (Sections  2.05 and
          4.02).

               The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the
          transfer  of  or exchange  any New  Senior  Note during  a period
          beginning at  the opening of business  15 days before the  day of
          the mailing  of  a notice  of  redemption of  less than  all  the
          outstanding  New Senior Notes and ending at the close of business
          on the  day of such mailing  or (ii) register the  transfer of or
          exchange  any New  Senior  Notes or  portions thereof  called for
          redemption in whole or in part.  (Section 2.05).

          Payment and Paying Agents

               Payment  of principal  of and  premium, if  any, on  any New
          Senior Note will  be made  only against surrender  to the  Paying
          Agent of  such New Senior Note.  Principal of and any premium and
          interest on New Senior Note will be payable at the office of such
          Paying Agent or Paying  Agents as the Company may  designate from
          time to time, except that at the option of the Company payment of
          any interest  may be made by  check mailed to the  address of the
          person  entitled thereto  as  such address  shall  appear in  the
          Security Register with respect to such New Senior Note.

               The Trustee  initially will act as Paying Agent with respect
          to  New Senior  Notes.   The Company  may  at any  time designate
          additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying
          Agents or approve a change in the office through which any Paying
          Agent acts.  (Sections 4.02 and 4.03).

               All moneys  paid by the  Company to a  Paying Agent for  the
          payment of the  principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if
          any, on any New Senior Notes that remain unclaimed at  the end of
          two years  after such  principal, premium,  if  any, or  interest
          shall have  become due  and payable,  subject to  applicable law,
          will  be repaid to the Company and  the holder of such New Senior
          Note  will  thereafter  look  only  to  the  Company for  payment
          thereof. (Section 11.04).

          Book-Entry Notes

               Except  under  the circumstances  described  below, the  New
          Senior Notes  will be issued in  whole or in part in  the form of
          one  or more  Global Notes  that will  be deposited  with, or  on
          behalf  of,  The Depository  Trust  Company, New  York,  New York
          ("DTC"),  or  such  other   depository  as  may  be  subsequently
          designated  (the "Depository"), and  registered in the  name of a
          nominee of the Depository.

               Book-Entry  Notes represented by  a Global Note  will not be
          exchangeable  for   certificated  notes  and,  except  under  the
          circumstances described below, will  not otherwise be issuable as
          certificated notes.

               So long as the Depository, or its nominee, is the registered
          owner of a Global  Note, such Depository or such nominee,  as the
          case may be, will be considered the sole owner  of the individual
          Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Note for all purposes
          under  the Indenture.  Payments  of principal of  and premium, if
          any, and any interest  on individual Book-Entry Notes represented
          by a Global  Note will be made to the  Depository or its nominee,
          as the case may be, as the  owner of such Global Note.  Except as
          set  forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note
          will not be  entitled to  have any of  the individual  Book-Entry
          Notes represented by such Global Note registered in  their names,
          will not receive or  be entitled to receive physical  delivery of
          any  such Book-Entry Note and  will not be  considered the owners
          thereof under  the Indenture, including, without  limitation, for
          purposes  of consenting  to any  amendment thereof  or supplement
          thereto.

               If  the Depository  is at  any time  unwilling or  unable to
          continue  as  depository  and   a  successor  depository  is  not
          appointed, the  Company will issue  individual certificated notes
          in exchange  for the  Global Note representing  the corresponding
          Book-Entry Notes.  In addition,  the Company may at any  time and
          in its sole discretion determine not to have any New Senior Notes
          represented by the  Global note  and, in such  event, will  issue
          individual  certificated notes  in exchange  for the  Global Note
          representing  the corresponding  Book-Entry Notes.   In any  such
          instance, an owner of  a Book-Entry Note represented by  a Global
          Note  will  be  entitled   to  physical  delivery  of  individual
          certificated notes  equal in principal amount  to such Book-Entry
          Note and to have such certificated notes registered in his or her
          name.   Individual certificated notes so issued will be issued as
          registered  New Senior Notes  in denominations,  unless otherwise
          specified by the Company, of $25 and integral multiples thereof.

               DTC has  confirmed to the  Company and the  Underwriters the
          following information:

               1.   DTC will  act as  securities depository for  the Global
          Notes.  The New  Senior Notes will be issued  as fully-registered
          securities   registered  in  the  name   of  Cede  &  Co.  (DTC's
          partnership nominee).   One fully-registered Global  Note will be
          issued  for  the series  of New  Senior  Notes, in  the aggregate
          principal amount of such series, and will be deposited with DTC.

               2.   DTC is  a limited-purpose trust company organized under
          the New York  Banking Law,  a "banking  organization" within  the
          meaning of  the New York  Banking Law,  a member  of the  Federal
          Reserve System,  a "clearing  corporation" within the  meaning of
          the New  York Uniform  Commercial Code,  and a "clearing  agency"
          registered  pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the 1934
          Act.  DTC holds securities that its participants ("Participants")
          deposit with  DTC.   DTC  also facilitates  the settlement  among
          Participants  of securities transactions,  such as  transfers and
          pledges, in deposited securities through  electronic computerized
          book-entry changes in Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating
          the  need  for  physical  movement  of  securities  certificates.
          Direct  Participants  include  securities  brokers  and  dealers,
          banks, trust companies, clearing corporations,  and certain other
          organizations.     DTC  is  owned  by  a  number  of  its  Direct
          Participants  and  by  the  New York  Stock  Exchange,  Inc., the
          American Stock  Exchange, Inc.,  and the National  Association of
          Securities  Dealers, Inc.    Access to  the  DTC system  is  also
          available  to  others such  as  securities  brokers and  dealers,
          banks,  and  trust companies  that  clear through  or  maintain a
          custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly
          or indirectly ("Indirect Participants").  The Rules applicable to
          DTC  and its  Participants are  on file  with the  Securities and
          Exchange Commission.

               3.   Purchases of New Senior Notes under the DTC system must
          be made by or  through Direct Participants, which will  receive a
          credit for the New  Senior Notes on DTC's records.  The ownership
          interest  of  each  actual  purchaser of  each  New  Senior  Note
          ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded  on the Direct and
          Indirect  Participants'  records.    Beneficial  Owners  will not
          receive  written confirmation  from  DTC of  their purchase,  but
          Beneficial Owners are  expected to receive  written confirmations
          providing  details  of  the  transaction,  as  well  as  periodic
          statements  of  their  holdings,  from  the  Direct  or  Indirect
          Participant through  which the Beneficial Owner  entered into the
          transaction.   Transfers of ownership interests in the New Senior
          Notes are  to be  accomplished by  entries made on  the books  of
          Participants acting  on behalf of Beneficial  Owners.  Beneficial
          Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership
          interests  in New Senior  Notes, except in the  event that use of
          the book-entry system for the New Senior Notes is discontinued.

               4.   To  facilitate  subsequent  transfers,  all  New Senior
          Notes deposited by  Participants with DTC  are registered in  the
          name of DTC's partnership nominee, Cede & Co.  The deposit of New
          Senior Notes with DTC and their registration in the  name of Cede
          &  Co. effect  no change  in  beneficial ownership.   DTC  has no
          knowledge  of the  actual  Beneficial Owners  of  the New  Senior
          Notes;  DTC's records  reflect only  the  identity of  the Direct
          Participants  to  whose  accounts   such  New  Senior  Notes  are
          credited,  which may or  may not be  the Beneficial  Owners.  The
          Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their
          holdings on behalf of their customers.

               5.   Conveyance of notices and  other communications by  DTC
          to  Direct  Participants,  by  Direct  Participants  to  Indirect
          Participants,   and   by   Direct   Participants   and   Indirect
          Participants   to  Beneficial   Owners   will  be   governed   by
          arrangements among  them, subject to any  statutory or regulatory
          requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

               6.   Redemption notices shall be sent to Cede & Co.  If less
          than  all of  the  New Senior  Notes  are being  redeemed,  DTC's
          practice is  to determine by  lot the amount  of the interest  of
          each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.

               7.   Neither  DTC nor Cede &  Co. will consent  or vote with
          respect to the New Senior Notes.  Under its usual procedures, DTC
          mails an Omnibus  Proxy to the Company as  soon as possible after
          the  record date.    The  Omnibus  Proxy  assigns  Cede  &  Co.'s
          consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose
          accounts the New  Senior Notes  are credited on  the record  date
          (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).

               8.   Principal and interest payments on the New Senior Notes
          will  be  made  to  DTC.   DTC's  practice  is  to  credit Direct
          Participants' accounts on  the date on which interest  is payable
          in  accordance  with their  respective  holdings  shown on  DTC's
          records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive
          payment  on such date.   Payments  by Participants  to Beneficial
          Owners will  be governed  by standing instructions  and customary
          practices, as is the  case with securities held for  the accounts
          of customers in bearer  form or registered in "street  name", and
          will  be the responsibility of  such Participant and  not of DTC,
          the  Underwriters or  the  Company, subject  to any  statutory or
          regulatory  requirements as may be  in effect from  time to time.
          Payment of principal and interest to DTC is the responsibility of
          the  Company or  the Trustee,  disbursement of  such payments  to
          Direct  Participants  shall be  the  responsibility  of DTC,  and
          disbursement of  such payments to the Beneficial  Owners shall be
          the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

               9.   DTC   may   discontinue  providing   its   services  as
          securities depository with respect to the New Senior Notes at any
          time  by giving reasonable notice to the Company and the Trustee.
          Under  such   circumstances,  in  the  event   that  a  successor
          securities depository  is  not obtained,  certificated notes  are
          required to be printed and delivered.

               10.  The Company may decide to discontinue use of the system
          of book-entry  transfers through  DTC (or a  successor securities
          depository).  In that  event, certificated notes will  be printed
          and delivered.

               The  information in  this section  concerning DTC  and DTC's
          book-entry system has been obtained from sources that the Company
          believes to be reliable, but the Company  takes no responsibility
          for the accuracy thereof.

               None of the Company, the Trustee or any agent for payment on
          or registration of transfer  or exchange of any Global  Note will
          have any  responsibility  or  liability  for any  aspect  of  the
          records relating  to or  payments made on  account of  beneficial
          interests in such  Global Note or for maintaining, supervising or
          reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.

          Modification of the Indenture

               The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and
          the  Trustee, with the consent of the  holders of not less than a
          majority in principal  amount of  Notes of each  series that  are
          affected  by the  modification, to  modify  the Indenture  or any
          supplemental indenture affecting that series or the rights of the
          holders  of  that  series  of   Notes;  provided,  that  no  such
          modification may,  without  the consent  of  the holder  of  each
          outstanding Note affected thereby,  (i) extend the fixed maturity
          of  any Notes  of  any series,  or  reduce the  principal  amount
          thereof,  or reduce the  rate or  extend the  time of  payment of
          interest  thereon,  or  reduce   any  premium  payable  upon  the
          redemption  thereof, or reduce the  amount of the  principal of a
          Discount Security (as defined in the Indenture) that would be due
          and  payable upon a  declaration of acceleration  of the maturity
          thereof pursuant to  the Indenture, (ii) reduce the percentage of
          Notes,  the holders of which are  required to consent to any such
          supplemental indenture, or (iii)  reduce the percentage of Notes,
          the holders  of which are required  to waive any  default and its
          consequences.  (Section 9.02).

               In  addition,  the  Company  and the  Trustee  may  execute,
          without  the consent  of  any holder  of Notes,  any supplemental
          indenture for certain other usual purposes including the creation
          of any new series of Notes.  (Sections 2.01, 9.01 and 10.01).

          Events of Default

               The Indenture provides that any one or more of the following
          described  events,   which  has  occurred   and  is   continuing,
          constitutes  an "Event of Default" with respect to each series of
          Notes:

                    (a) failure for  30 days  to pay interest  on Notes  of
               that series when due and payable; or

                    (b)  failure for  3 Business Days  to pay  principal or
               premium,  if any,  on  Notes of  that  series when  due  and
               payable  whether at  maturity, upon redemption,  pursuant to
               any sinking fund obligation, by declaration or otherwise; or

                    (c)  failure by the  Company to observe  or perform any
               other covenant  (other than  those specifically  relating to
               another series) contained in the Indenture for 90 days after
               written  notice  to  the  Company from  the  Trustee  or the
               holders  of  at  least  33%  in  principal  amount  of   the
               outstanding Notes of that series; or

                    (d)  certain events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or
               reorganization of the Company; or

                    (e) any other event of default provided for in a series
               of Notes. (Section 6.01).

               The Trustee or the holders of not less than 33% in aggregate
          outstanding principal  amount of  any particular series  of Notes
          may declare  the principal  due and  payable immediately  upon an
          Event of Default  with respect to such series, but the holders of
          a  majority in  aggregate  outstanding principal  amount of  such
          series  may annul  such declaration  and  waive the  default with
          respect to  such series if the  default has been cured  and a sum
          sufficient  to  pay  all  matured installments  of  interest  and
          principal otherwise than by acceleration and any premium has been
          deposited with the Trustee.  (Sections 6.01 and 6.06).

               The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal
          amount of any series of Notes have the right to  direct the time,
          method  and  place of  conducting any  proceeding for  any remedy
          available to  the  Trustee  for  that series.    (Section  6.06).
          Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties
          of the Trustee  in case an  Event of Default  shall occur and  be
          continuing, the Trustee  will be under no  obligation to exercise
          any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or
          direction of any of the holders of the Notes, unless such holders
          shall have offered to  the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to  it.
          (Section 7.02). 

               The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal
          amount  of any series of Notes affected thereby may, on behalf of
          the holders of  all Notes of such series, waive any past default,
          except a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or
          interest  when due  otherwise than  by acceleration  (unless such
          default has  been cured and  a sum sufficient to  pay all matured
          installments  of   interest  and  principal  otherwise   than  by
          acceleration and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee)
          or  a call  for redemption  of Notes  of such  series.   (Section
          6.06).  The Company is required to file annually with the Trustee
          a certificate as to whether  or not the Company is in  compliance
          with  all  the  conditions  and covenants  under  the  Indenture.
          (Section 5.03(d)).

          Consolidation, Merger and Sale

               The Indenture  does not contain any  covenant that restricts
          the  Company's ability to merge  or consolidate with  or into any
          other corporation, sell or convey all or substantially all of its
          assets  to any person, firm or corporation or otherwise engage in
          restructuring   transactions,   provided   that   the   successor
          corporation  assumes due  and  punctual payment  of principal  or
          premium, if any, and interest on the Notes. (Section 10.01).

          Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

               Notes of any series may be defeased in accordance with their
          terms  and, unless  the supplemental  indenture or  Company Order
          establishing  the terms of such series otherwise provides, as set
          forth  below.   The Company  at any  time may  terminate as  to a
          series all  of its  obligations (except for  certain obligations,
          including obligations  with respect  to the defeasance  trust and
          obligations  to register the transfer  or exchange of  a Note, to
          replace destroyed,  lost or stolen Notes and to maintain agencies
          in respect of the Notes) with respect to the Notes of such series
          and  the Indenture ("legal defeasance").  The Company at any time
          also may terminate as to a series its obligations with respect to
          the Notes of that series under any restrictive covenant which may
          be applicable to that particular series ("covenant defeasance").

               The  Company  may  exercise  its  legal   defeasance  option
          notwithstanding  its prior  exercise of  its covenant  defeasance
          option.   If the Company  exercises its legal  defeasance option,
          the  particular series may not be accelerated because of an Event
          of Default.   If the  Company exercises  its covenant  defeasance
          option,  a  series may  not be  accelerated  by reference  to any
          restrictive covenant  which may be applicable  to that particular
          series.

               To exercise either of its defeasance options as to a series,
          the Company must deposit with the Trustee or any paying agent, in
          trust:  moneys or Eligible Obligations, or a combination thereof,
          in an  amount sufficient  to pay  when due  the principal of  and
          premium, if any, and interest,  if any, due and to become  due on
          the Notes of such series that are Outstanding  (as defined in the
          Indenture).   Such  defeasance  or discharge  may occur  only if,
          among other things, the  Company has delivered to the  Trustee an
          Opinion of Counsel to the effect  that the holders of such  Notes
          will  not recognize gain, loss  or income for  federal income tax
          purposes as a  result of  the satisfaction and  discharge of  the
          Indenture  with respect to such series and that such holders will
          realize gain, loss or income on such Notes, including payments of
          interest thereon,  in the same amounts and in the same manner and
          at the same time as would have been the case if such satisfaction
          and discharge had not occurred. (Section 11.01).

               In  the event the Company  exercises its option  to effect a
          covenant defeasance with respect  to the Notes of any  series and
          the  Notes of that series are thereafter declared due and payable
          because of the  occurrence of any Event of Default  other than an
          Event of Default caused  by failing to comply with  the covenants
          which are defeased, the amount  of money and Eligible Obligations
          on deposit with the Trustee may not be sufficient to pay  amounts
          due on the  Notes of that series at the  time of the acceleration
          resulting from such Event of Default.  However, the Company would
          remain liable for such payments. (Section 11.01).

          Governing Law

               The  Indenture and New Senior Notes will be governed by, and
          construed in accordance with, the laws  of the State of New York.
          (Section 13.05).

          Concerning the Trustee

               AEP System companies, including  the Company, utilize or may
          utilize some of  the banking services offered by The  Bank of New
          York  in the  normal  course of  their  businesses.   Among  such
          services are the making  of short-term loans, generally at  rates
          related to the prime commercial interest rate.

                                    LEGAL OPINIONS

               Opinions  with respect  to the  legality of  the  New Senior
          Notes  will  be  rendered  by   Simpson  Thacher  &  Bartlett  (a
          partnership  which  includes   professional  corporations),   425
          Lexington  Avenue,  New York,  New  York and  1  Riverside Plaza,
          Columbus, Ohio,  counsel for the Company, and by Dewey Ballantine
          LLP, 1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, counsel for
          the Underwriters.   Additional legal opinions  in connection with
          the offering  of the New Senior  Notes may be given  by Thomas G.
          Berkemeyer  or  David C.  House, counsel  for  the Company.   Mr.
          Berkemeyer  is Assistant  General Counsel,  and  Mr. House  is an
          Attorney,  in the  Legal  Department of  American Electric  Power
          Service Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of AEP.  From time
          to  time, Dewey Ballantine LLP  acts as counsel  to affiliates of
          the Company in connection with certain matters.

                                       EXPERTS

               The  financial statements  and  related financial  statement
          schedule incorporated  in this  prospectus by reference  from the
          Company's  Annual  Report on  Form  10-K  have  been  audited  by
          Deloitte & Touche  LLP, independent auditors, as  stated in their
          reports,  which are  incorporated herein  by reference,  and have
          been  so incorporated in reliance  upon the reports  of such firm
          given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                     UNDERWRITING

               Subject  to the  terms  and conditions  of the  Underwriting
          Agreement,  the Company  has  agreed  to  sell  to  each  of  the
          Underwriters  named  below  ("Underwriters"),  and  each  of  the
          Underwriters has  severally agreed  to purchase from  the Company
          the  respective principal  amount of New  Senior Notes  set forth
          opposite its name below:

                                                        Principal Amount
          Underwriters                                 of New Senior Notes

          Smith Barney Inc.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   $              
          Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                      Incorporated  . . . . . . . . . . .   $              
          Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated   . . . . . .   $              
          PaineWebber Incorporated  . . . . . . . . . . .   $              
          Prudential Securities Incorporated  . . . . . .   $              

               TOTAL  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100,000,000   


               In the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters have agreed,
          subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions  set forth  therein,  to
          purchase all of the New Senior Notes offered hereby if any of the
          New Senior Notes are purchased.

               The Underwriters propose  to offer the  New Senior Notes  in
          part  directly to the public at the initial public offering price
          set forth  on the cover page  of this Prospectus, and  in part to
          certain securities dealers at such price less a concession not in
          excess  of $______  per New  Senior Note.   The  Underwriters may
          allow, and such dealers  may reallow, a concession not  in excess
          of  $______ per New Senior  Note to certain  brokers and dealers.
          After the New  Senior Notes are released for sale  to the public,
          the offering price and other selling terms may  from time to time
          be varied by the Underwriters.

               The  Company has agreed, during  the period of  30 days from
          the date of  the Underwriting  Agreement, not to  sell, offer  to
          sell, grant any  option for the sale of, or  otherwise dispose of
          any  New   Senior  Notes,   any  security  convertible   into  or
          exchangeable into or exercisable for New Senior Notes or any debt
          securities substantially similar to  the New Senior Notes (except
          for the  New Senior  Notes  issued pursuant  to the  Underwriting
          Agreement),   without  the   prior   written   consent   of   the
          Underwriters.

               The New  Senior Notes are a new  issue of securities with no
          established  trading market.   While the Company  intends to list
          the New Senior Notes on the NYSE, there can be  no assurance that
          an active  market for  the New  Senior Notes  will develop  or be
          sustained in the  future on the NYSE.   Listing will depend  upon
          satisfaction of  the NYSE's listing requirements  with respect to
          the  New Senior Notes.  The Underwriters have advised the Company
          that they intend to make  a market in the New Senior  Notes prior
          to the commencement  of trading  on the NYSE.   The  Underwriters
          will have no obligation to make a market in the New Senior Notes,
          however, and may cease market making activities, if commenced, at
          any time.

               The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against
          certain  liabilities, including  certain  liabilities  under  the
          Securities Act of 1933.

               In  connection with  this  offering and  in compliance  with
          applicable  law  and  industry  practice,  the  Underwriters  may
          overallot or  effect  transactions which  stabilize, maintain  or
          otherwise  affect the  market price  of the  New Senior  Notes at
          levels  above those  which might  otherwise prevail  in the  open
          market, including  by entering  stabilizing bids,  purchasing New
          Senior  Notes to  cover  syndicate short  positions and  imposing
          penalty bids.  A stabilizing bid means the placing of any bid, or
          the effecting of any purchase, for the purpose of pegging, fixing
          or maintaining the  price of  a security.   Covering a  syndicate
          short  position means placing a bid  or effecting a purchase of a
          security  on behalf of  the underwriting syndicate  to reduce the
          short position created in connection with the offering.  Imposing
          a  penalty bid means purchasing a security  in the open market to
          reduce  the  underwriting   syndicate's  short  position  or   to
          stabilize the  price of the security and  in connection therewith
          reclaiming  the  amount  of   the  selling  concession  from  the
          underwriters and  selling group members who  sold such securities
          as part of the offering.

               In general,  purchases  of a  security  for the  purpose  of
          stabilization or to reduce a syndicate short position could cause
          the price of  the security to be higher  than it might be  in the
          absence of such purchases.  The imposition of a penalty bid might
          also have an effect on the price of a security to the extent that
          it were to discourage resales of the security.

               Neither the Company  nor any of  the Underwriters makes  any
          representation or prediction as to the direction or  magnitude of
          any  effect that the transactions described above may have on the
          price of the New Senior Notes.   In addition, neither the Company
          nor any  of the  Underwriters makes  any representation  that the
          Underwriters  will  engage  in  such transactions  or  that  such
          transactions  once  commenced, will  not be  discontinued without
          notice.

               The Underwriters, and certain  affiliates thereof, engage in
          transactions with, and from time to time have  performed services
          for, the Company  and its  affiliates in the  ordinary course  of
          business.



                   PART II.  INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

          Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

                    Estimation  based upon the  issuance of all  of the New
          Senior Notes in one issuance:

          Securities and Exchange Commission 
            Filing Fees                                            $ 29,500
          Printing Registration Statement, 
            Prospectus, etc.                                         25,000
          Printing and Engraving New Senior Notes                    10,000
          Independent Auditors' fees                                 15,000
          Charges of Trustee (including counsel fees)                10,000
          Legal fees                                                 65,000
          Rating Agency fees                                         48,000
          Miscellaneous expenses                                   $ 20,000

               Total                                               $212,500

          *    Estimated, except for filing fees.


          Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

               The  Bylaws of  the Company provide  that the  Company shall
          indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be
          made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit
          or   proceeding,  whether  civil,  criminal,  administrative,  or
          investigative and whether formal  or informal because such person
          is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or is or
          was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer,
          partner,  trustee, employee  or  agent  of  another  corporation,
          partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
          enterprise,   against   any   obligations   to   pay   judgments,
          settlements,  penalties,  fines  (including  any  excise  tax) or
          reasonable expenses (including attorneys'  fees) incurred by such
          person  in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if (a)
          such  person conducted  him or  herself in  good faith,  (b) such
          person  believed in the case of conduct in such person's official
          capacity  with the Company (as  defined) that his  or her conduct
          was  in  the best  interests of  the Company,  and, in  all other
          cases, that  his or her conduct  was at least not  opposed to its
          best  interests,  (c) with  respect to  any   criminal  action or
          proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his or
          her  conduct was  unlawful and  (d) such  person was  not grossly
          negligent or guilty of willful misconduct.  Such indemni-fication
          in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the Company
          is limited to reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the
          proceeding.  Any such indemnification (unless ordered by a court)
          shall be made by the Company  only as authorized in the  specific
          case upon a determination that indemnification of the director is
          proper in  the  circumstances because  such  person has  met  the
          applicable standard of conduct.

               Section  13.1-698  of the  Code  of  Virginia provides  that
          unless limited  by the  articles of incorporation,  a corporation
          shall  indemnify a director who entirely  prevails in the defense
          of any proceeding to which  such person was a party because  such
          person is or was a director of the corporation against reasonable
          expenses incurred  in connection  with such proceeding.   Section
          13.1-699  provides that a  corporation may  pay for  or reimburse
          reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to such
          a proceeding in advance  of final disposition of such  proceeding
          if  (a) the director furnishes a  written statement of his or her
          good  faith  belief that  the  standard of  conduct  described in
          Section 13.1-697  has been met;  (b) the  director furnishes  the
          corporation a written undertaking by or on behalf of the director
          to repay the  advance if  it is ultimately  determined that  such
          person   did  not  meet  the  standard  of  conduct;  and  (c)  a
          determination is made that  the facts then known to  those making
          the  determination would  not preclude indemnification.   Section
          13.1-700.1 provides procedures which  allow directors to apply to
          a court for an order directing advances or indemnification.

               Section  13.1-702  provides  that   unless  limited  by  the
          articles of incorporation, (a) officers are entitled to mandatory
          indemni-fication under  Section 13.1-698  and to apply  for court
          ordered  indemnification  under Section  13.1-700.1  to the  same
          extent  as a director, and  (b) that a  corporation may indemnify
          and advance expenses to an officer, employee or agent to the same
          extent  as to  a director.   Section  13.1-704 provides  that any
          corporation shall have the power to make any further indemnity to
          any director, officer, employee  or agent that may  be authorized
          by  the  articles  of incorporation  or  any  bylaw  made by  the
          stockholders  or  any resolution  adopted,  before  or after  the
          event, by  the stockholders, except an  indemnity against willful
          misconduct or a knowing violation of criminal law.

               The  above is a general summary of certain provisions of the
          Company's Bylaws and  the Code of Virginia and is  subject in all
          respects to the specific and detailed provisions of the Company's
          Bylaws and the Code of Virginia.

               Reference is made  to the Selling  Agency Agreement and  the
          Underwriting Agreement  filed as  Exhibits 1(a) and  1(b) hereto,
          respectively, which  provide for indemnification of  the Company,
          certain of its  directors and officers,  and persons who  control
          the Company, under certain circumstances.

               The   Company  maintains  insurance  policies  insuring  its
          directors and  officers against  certain obligations that  may be
          incurred by them.

          Item 16.  Exhibits.

               Reference  is  made  to  the information  contained  in  the
          Exhibit Index filed as part of this Registration Statement.

          Item 17.  Undertakings.

               The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

               (1)  That, for purposes  of determining any liability  under
               the Securities Act  of 1933, each filing of the registrant's
               annual report pursuant to section  13(a) or section 15(d) of
               the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that  is incorporated by
               reference in this registration  statement shall be deemed to
               be a new registration  statement relating to the New  Senior
               Notes, and the offering thereof at that time shall be deemed
               to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

               (2)  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising
               under  the  Securities Act  of  1933  may  be  permitted  to
               directors,   officers  and   controlling   persons  of   the
               registrant  pursuant  to the  laws  of  the Commonwealth  of
               Virginia,  the  registrant's   bylaws,  or  otherwise,   the
               registrant has been advised  that in the opinion of  the SEC
               such indemnification is against  public policy as  expressed
               in said Act and is, therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event
               that a  claim for  indemnification against  such liabilities
               (other  than  the  payment  by the  registrant  of  expenses
               incurred  or  paid by  a  director,  officer or  controlling
               person of  the registrant in  the successful defense  of any
               action, suit  or proceeding)  is asserted by  such director,
               officer  or controlling  person in  connection with  the New
               Senior Notes,  the registrant will, unless in the opinion of
               its  counsel  the matter  has  been  settled by  controlling
               precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
               question  whether  such  indemnification by  it  is  against
               public  policy as expressed in said Act and will be governed
               by the final adjudication of such issue.

               (3)  For purposes  of  determining any  liability under  the
               Securities  Act of  1933, the  information omitted  from the
               form  of  prospectus  filed  as part  of  this  registration
               statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form
               of  prospectus  filed by  the  registrant  pursuant to  Rule
               424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be
               deemed to be part  of this registration statement as  of the
               time it was declared effective.

               (4)  For the purpose of  determining any liability under the
               Securities Act of  1933, each post-effective  amendment that
               contains a  form of prospectus shall  be deemed to  be a new
               registration  statement relating  to the  securities offered
               therein, and  the offering of  such securities at  that time
               shall  be  deemed  to  be  the initial  bona  fide  offering
               thereof.


                                      SIGNATURES

               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of  1933,
          the registrant  certifies that it has reasonable cause to believe
          that it  meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and
          has duly caused this  registration statement to be signed  on its
          behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
          of Columbus and State of Ohio, on the 9th day of February, 1998.


                                        APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY

                                        E. Linn Draper, Jr.*
                                        Chairman of the Board and
                                           Chief Executive Officer


               Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
          this  registration  statement  has   been  signed  below  by  the
          following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


                    Signature                 Title                  Date

          (i) Principal Executive 
                Officer              Chairman of the Board
                                     and Chief Executive
              E. Linn Draper, Jr.*         Officer         February 9, 1998

          (ii) Principal Financial
                 Officer:

               G. P. Maloney*          Vice President      February 9, 1998

          (iii) Principal Accounting 
                  Officer:

               P. J. DeMaria*          Controller          February 9, 1998

          (iv) A Majority of the
                 Directors:

               P. J. DeMaria*
               E. Linn Draper, Jr.*
               H. W. Fayne*
               Wm. J. Lhota*
               G. P. Maloney*
               James J. Markowsky*
               J. H. Vipperman*                            February 9, 1998

          *By_/s/ A. A. Pena_
          (A. A. Pena, Attorney-in-Fact)



                                    EXHIBIT INDEX

               Certain  of  the  following  exhibits,  designated  with  an
          asterisk (*), are filed herewith.  The exhibits not so designated
          have heretofore been  filed with the Commission  and, pursuant to
          17 C.F.R. Sections 201.24 and 230.411, are incorporated herein by
          reference to the  documents indicated following  the descriptions
          of such exhibits.

          Exhibit No.                    Description

          * 1       -    Copy  of proposed  form of  Underwriting Agreement
                         for the New Senior Notes.

          * 4(a)    -    Copy of  Indenture, dated  as of January  1, 1998,
                         between  the Company and The Bank  of New York, as
                         Trustee, for the Notes.

          * 4(b)    -    Copy of Company Order, dated January 21, 1998, for
                         the Unsecured Medium Term Notes, Series A.

          * 4(c)    -    Copy of proposed form of Company Order for the New
                         Senior Notes.

          * 5       -    Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett with respect
                         to the New Senior Notes.

           12       -    Statement  re  Computations  of Ratios  [Quarterly
                         Report on Form 10-Q of the Company  for the period
                         ended September 30, 1997, File No. 1-3457, Exhibit
                         12].

          *23(a)    -    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

           23(b)    -    Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (included in
                         Exhibit 5 filed herewith).

          *24       -    Powers of Attorney and resolutions of the Board of
                         Directors of the Company.

          *25       -    Form T-1 re eligibility of The Bank of New York to
                         act as Trustee under the Indenture.